San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1887-03-15

George Holland could afford fancies.
He was thirty-fve, rich, and alone in
the world. Ii was new riches coming
after years of grinding poverty. Five
years of possession had not worn off the
charm of novelty. Perhaps he over
valued his new estate; certainly there
were excuses for him if he did.
So Kitty went to the picnic with
Charley Morse, and Leah occupied a
part of the back seat of the Mason car
| riage, and chatted contentedly with
Mrs. Mason all the way out to the High
Rock.
The Allen girls, living all their days
in this quiet country village where i'll
childhood at least the lines were not
very sharply drawn between the differ
ent social grades, had known as school
playmates every other girl in the party.
There was no question of education or
breeding; it was simply the want or
possession of money that made the diff
ference between them. AS the Allen
fortunes had contracted little by little,
Leah had dropped out of the village feS-
tivities. She could not afford the time
nor the strength to keep up the strug-
gle for appearances at the cost it inVOlV-
ed. 1t was easier to accept the life OF
remuneration that lay before her, to
spend her few hours of leisure over
book or her music. The world is all
alike down to its very smallest piece.
Slip out of the channel, and the current
does not 60 out of its way to follow you.
Leah's associates had always been older
than herself. Most of them were mar
ried now, and that helped to make her
feel that she belonged to bygone gen.
Grafton.
The day was pleasant enough-a good
deal like other days. 1t was only as
they were preparing to come home that
any thing out of the ordinary happened.
She had met George Holland, and had
looked at him with new standard of
measurement in her mind. she found
him quietly commonplace, not obtrusive
and not young. There was nothing
knightly about him. Leah had had her
ideals like other girls.
They had waited for the sunset, and
now under white full moon they were
starting on their hOmeward ride.
She stood leaning against a tree
trunk, wondering idly why Dick did not
come to summon her. She was quite
alone; most of the others had already
gone. A step crushed among the crisp
moss beside her. She turned with a
smile, and it was George Holland.
"Mr. Mason sent me-" with grave
politeness. something has happened
to his carriage, and there will neces-
sarily be change of arrangement about
going home. Miss Mason will go with
your sister. VIII you allow me to drive
you?"
Leah's heart gave quick little bound
"a half-guilty one. 1t was of Holland
that she was thinking as he came up,
not WIN any glrllsh nltterlngs OF spe-
clous selt:decelying-Jgst cooily making
up her MIND with the hard, clear, iogl'
cal dlTectleSs OF the New England
mental processes:
lie had thought as he approached hel
now sweet anu pure anu utterly uh-
worldly she looked Ana she was say
ing TO herself: u
1 III ne asks me, VIII marry nm.
y. Jhere were ways enough. other girls S
ulu as much L9r Ill9 men Llley caTeu l9r,
and no one blamed them or thoughtG
they mad oVersteppea the bounds OF
maldenly proprlety. Ana just then MS
voice sounded IN her ears.
FOR the nrSG rev minutes OF Ihe rue
very llItle was saId. Lean mac Ilad never
had IMITATION IN hef Ire. Inc matter
petore heT was dead solemn ehrheSt.
Her small hanGS lay ilghtly GLasped IN
her zap the SolI evening Wlnd Dlew het
hat BACK on ne, mer neck, ana SRe ,I dlu not
replace IT, Inc moon sll0n9 lull Oh i L01
lace, anu deePehe4 tne SHADOWS Vi lile
long iaSheS against her cheeK.
Il rear am rathef aull compan-
ION, !" ne salu, AT iaSt. III mas not come
IN my, way 10 talk 10 young lauieS
mucn n o,,s ,,a;oa diro,oo+ froo,
Are young lauieS ulllerehI from
other PeoPle-ln their conversational
demands, mean !r, :.
es; RATHER. lhaC lS' KNOW EeIy
nttle ABOUT them' am not d society
mail Oh, s.,.
Are you not! one lelC llall-coll.
tempt 1or tne eii-cohsclousheSS InaC
Degan WIFI an apolQgy; ,..,,
NO: but, cneerlully, helIler all L
an ARTIST OF poet. -.
nope you are goou urlVer' aLI-
tle Sharply,
rapDlG nau rllsheu across eros Ilie toaa
under IEe HORSES noses. Ine lllipdT T'.
DeasIS improved Ihe occasion. .Iney
reared ana Piuhgeu anu DLoke lllIo
aeau run IN ne Ii mEtu LCaI was lia frONU
ana rougn; Ihe IlgIlI venice swung IFoLh
slde 10 sl9e' Lean GaughC her pledC Il
and Draced nerSelI IN h9T , seat lie was
Dusy WIN ms norses; wien ne cL9ck-
ed them at last, ana 1au Tune 10 LOOK az
her, apparently she hau not moved
muscle. lie could not see ttltIt Glie halluS
lying IN her zap We're cienGhe q IKE IRON
GU are wonuefIul girl ne salu'
honestly. IL expected you 10 scream,
Iurn your lace 10 tne liglC anu lei lle
see you. HOW whiIe you are! were
you TrlgnIeheu'